Could’ve gone either way. But I will say Freedom live is why I bought my first BM CD. I had to have it and not only was I not disappointed, I was extremely satisfied with the rest of the songs. Really enjoying your journey and agree with you 90% of the time. That’s a lot compared to other people! Thanks KROSS
Because Miku insisted on "My Way! My Way! My Way!"...we now have the best live rock band on the planet. And, if anyone disagrees, I say, "Back off! Go Away! GoAway! Go Away!"
Quite rightly something like the unofficial anthem of the ladies for a long time! 🔥🤘🏻 _____________________ 「 _"Our rock never dies ever. Forever!"_ 」 - from *BAND-MAID* - 'Manners' ♬🕊
In the studio version Kanami is more up front and it’s a great classic rock riff. I know it was written outside the group with some lyrics credit to Miku but they understand it a crowd pleasers and look like they having so much fun! MISA’s bass is driving the live version and Akane’s smile is infectious! Yes it’s the Gorilla’s anthem! Studio version coming in at #6 but live is #4. 🤘🕊️🦍🥷👸🏻👀PO!
Hey @bandmaidfanATL, I see you comment on several Band-Maid reactions. I'm in metro Atlanta too. Saw them in Atlanta at Buckhead Theater when they were here. I'm 61 and have seen many bands in my lifetime but these ladies were probably the best I've ever seen. Just wanted to mention that. Keep cranking K-Ross, hopefully you will see them live sooner than later. They are incredible live. I was in the 3rd row between Misa and Miku when I saw them. Fantastic to see Misa's stank face when she really gets going. Keep up the good work!!!
Every time I hear this song, live or studio version, the arms go up, finger horns extended, tongue goes out and the head starts bangin'. It's an involuntary reaction at this point. Love, love, love this song!!
"Freedom" live at shibuya is awesome, primarily cos of the fun the Maids are having & Akane's drum solo. But as a studio track it wouldn't be in my Top 10 :)
Though not having the same significance as "Alone" it has a lot of value. Alone was fully written by B-M, while on this song Miku got the credits. The song is about releasing yourself from the shackles put on by others and doing stuff "your way". From this point it was all about "My way, my way!"
I LOVE this song, but I really struggle to listen to the studio version these days, just because the official live so totally outclasses it. The studio take feels so tame by comparison. The studio version lands at No 11 in my list, just after Don't Let Me Down and just before Thrill.
What amazes me the most is how much better their harmonies are in the live version. It almost seems unfair to the studio versions. It's not their faults that The Maids are so great live, they often times seem a bit flat by comparison. Thanks for playing both, even though you're only ranking the studio versions. Also thanks for another great episode of your Ultimate Ranking show. Life is so much BETTER with BAND-MAID! 🤘😝🤘
This Live is a foremost Maid Rock experience. Comes the point where we Maidiacs just sit back with 4 of the Maids and become ultimate Akane fans...and then, when she's done the solo...them 4 just switch back on and fuckin become Iron Maiden for a hot minute 🙉🔥 Having heard it so many times now my main focus, when gorilla not soloing, is MISA MISA MISA and more MISA. She's a work horse 💪👌 As far as Akane goes in this song...she gives me the Deep Purple vibes...likely harks back to her learning Highway Star 🤘🤘🤘
Every LIVE version of Freedom kicks ass. Band Maid seems to always have fun playing this song. To me, the most "fun" version is from 2018 Zepp Tokyo. Miku going full rock star in the first verse, Saiki going into the crowd towards the end and not getting back on stage for the final chorus, Miku stepping up and doing solo vocal instead.
This is my favorite song period. Any band, any genre. I agree, the studio version doesn't match the live version, but I have become so biased by the live version - also check out the live version of this on Band Maid Prime 2018 Zepp Tokyo, near the end of part three. The intro is killer, like revving up your car before you put your foot through the floor and then again, the power of the live performance of this song is otherworldly! And I believe Saiki goes into the crowd and Miku has to finish the song while Saiki fights her way back to the stage, LOL! They did a new intro for this song at Yokohama Arena that was even more killer!! K-Ross, I hope they do come to the UK and they play this one for you. The energy of this song with the crowd's energy must be experienced. And for your total enjoyment, just put your phone away and drink it all in, it's powerful and amazing and so much damn fun!!! Thank you again for this fun video and your painful suffering as you rank them!
I LOVE this song live (personally seen them play it four times so far), but the studio track doesn't cut it so much for me. So far I have: 1. Real Existence 2. Freezer 3. Forward 4. Arcadia Girl 5. ORDER 6. Be OK 7. the non-fiction days 8. Don't Apply The Brake 9. LOOK AT ME 10. Knockin' on Your Heart 11. Don't Let Me Down 12. Ai to Jōnetsu no Matador 13. KEY 14. Shake That! 15. YURAGU 16. Thrill 17. Yoake mae 18. Price of Pride 19. Bye My Tears 20. Brand-New Road 21. Summer Drive 22. EverGreen 23. FREEDOM 24. Big Dad 25. Beauty And The Beast
It really does feel strange hearing the studio version. I always hear the live. It sounds like Miku put a little attitude in the beginning of her line, too.
Unfortunately, for fans like myself that are newer fans to this group, who knew the live version before hearing the studio version. To me, the studio version feels flat, because there isn't a drum solo or that great lead up to Kanami's solo. It's the same way with Domination. I do love both studio versions, I don't skip them, but just not the same. 🤘
My first B-M experience too. Drum solo aside, Live version still miles better. Not sure if Saiki’s voice was struggling at this time but she doesn’t have anywhere near the power and depth on the studio recording as she does in the Live. The crowd also adds substance which when going back to studio, just seems a bit empty. There are many examples of where the crowd involvement completes the song for me or I have new/enhanced appreciation for when seeing a live version. Not sure what they can do about that (for the studio versions) when that’s the experience they’re going for - but kudos to them for writing with the live performance in mind. 1. Arcadia Girl 2. Freezer 3. Shake That! 4. Thrill 5. Real Existence 6. Forward 7. Yuragu 8. Non-Fiction Days 9. Price Of Pride 10. Don’t Apply the Brake 11. Bye My Tears 12. Summer Drive 13. Be OK 14. Key 15. Freedom 16. Brand New Road 17. Look at Me 18. Order 19. Beauty and the Beast 20. Ai to Jōnetsu no Matador 21. Yoake Mae 22. EverGreen 23. Knockin on your heart 24. Big Dad 25. Don’t Let Me Down
I agree with you about some studio versions being better. I think "Blooming" for example has never hit has hard live as the studio version. the non-fiction days Yuragu Thrill Freezer Real Existence Shake That!! Key Arcadia Girl * Beauty and the Beast * Knockin' On Your Heart NEW: Freedom Don't Apply the Brake Price of Pride Be OK Forward Ai to Jonetsu no Matadoru Summer Drive Brand New Road Order Look at Me Don't Let Me Down Yoake Mae Big Dad Show Them Evergreen
First thing I noticed right away in this studio version is Saiki-san's raspy voice! I feel so much for her! I don't hear it as much in the other tracks except for Before Yesterday. It was even worse in that track. 😥😫
I think most folks agree that a few songs like Choose Me, Blooming and Warning are better as Studio versions. Where as Wonderland and Awkward need to be heard live as the venue acoustics comes into play. I'm not including songs with extra guitar, bass duels or drum solos etc as these sway opinions- Hate etc.
Band Maid is a lot like KISS in live respects. They have a way of feeding off the crowd, the energy, the entire spirit of their shows. Makes their studio versions lack, comparatively.
![Digital Circus Episode 4 [TRAILER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/abZtsmMUbJo/mqdefault.jpg)
Kanami’s solo after Akane’s sounds heavenly. Magic moment 🔥❤️
Could’ve gone either way. But I will say Freedom live is why I bought my first BM CD. I had to have it and not only was I not disappointed, I was extremely satisfied with the rest of the songs. Really enjoying your journey and agree with you 90% of the time. That’s a lot compared to other people! Thanks KROSS
Because Miku insisted on "My Way! My Way! My Way!"...we now have the best live rock band on the planet. And, if anyone disagrees, I say, "Back off! Go Away! GoAway! Go Away!"
Quite rightly something like the unofficial anthem of the ladies for a long time! 🔥🤘🏻
_____________________
「 _"Our rock never dies ever. Forever!"_ 」 - from *BAND-MAID* - 'Manners' ♬🕊
At this point, I always listen to both. One always makes me want to hear the other.
Freedom where the love began for our esteemed reviewer,po!
In the studio version Kanami is more up front and it’s a great classic rock riff.
I know it was written outside the group with some lyrics credit to Miku but they understand it a crowd pleasers and look like they having so much fun! MISA’s bass is driving the live version and Akane’s smile is infectious! Yes it’s the Gorilla’s anthem!
Studio version coming in at #6 but live is #4.
🤘🕊️🦍🥷👸🏻👀PO!
Would you believe that Band-Maid has played this song the most of all their songs live? Over 250 times.
Hey @bandmaidfanATL, I see you comment on several Band-Maid reactions. I'm in metro Atlanta too. Saw them in Atlanta at Buckhead Theater when they were here. I'm 61 and have seen many bands in my lifetime but these ladies were probably the best I've ever seen. Just wanted to mention that. Keep cranking K-Ross, hopefully you will see them live sooner than later. They are incredible live. I was in the 3rd row between Misa and Miku when I saw them. Fantastic to see Misa's stank face when she really gets going. Keep up the good work!!!
whenever Akane solo with that big smile, im always happy 🤘
Every time I hear this song, live or studio version, the arms go up, finger horns extended, tongue goes out and the head starts bangin'. It's an involuntary reaction at this point. Love, love, love this song!!
We're getting close to the start of the "meat & potatos"... I hope you have "Unfair Game" and "matchless GUM" lined up after "Alone".
"Freedom" live at shibuya is awesome, primarily cos of the fun the Maids are having & Akane's drum solo. But as a studio track it wouldn't be in my Top 10 :)
It's even awesomer at Zepp Tokyo. Yeah, the studio version is.. good.
same
Though not having the same significance as "Alone" it has a lot of value.
Alone was fully written by B-M, while on this song Miku got the credits.
The song is about releasing yourself from the shackles put on by others and doing stuff "your way".
From this point it was all about "My way, my way!"
I believe Saiki has improved her "performance" the most among the 5 members (maybe the same amount as Miku) since this song was first recorded.
I LOVE this song, but I really struggle to listen to the studio version these days, just because the official live so totally outclasses it. The studio take feels so tame by comparison. The studio version lands at No 11 in my list, just after Don't Let Me Down and just before Thrill.
The studio version is in my top… 80 or 90… the live is in my top 5
Love this song live, top 10 for sure. Studio? Well, a little farther down.
What amazes me the most is how much better their harmonies are in the live version. It almost seems unfair to the studio versions. It's not their faults that The Maids are so great live, they often times seem a bit flat by comparison. Thanks for playing both, even though you're only ranking the studio versions. Also thanks for another great episode of your Ultimate Ranking show.
Life is so much BETTER with BAND-MAID!
🤘😝🤘
I like the studio version, but, the live is so much better due to the obvious 😊😊 Po!
This Live is a foremost Maid Rock experience. Comes the point where we Maidiacs just sit back with 4 of the Maids and become ultimate Akane fans...and then, when she's done the solo...them 4 just switch back on and fuckin become Iron Maiden for a hot minute 🙉🔥 Having heard it so many times now my main focus, when gorilla not soloing, is MISA MISA MISA and more MISA. She's a work horse 💪👌 As far as Akane goes in this song...she gives me the Deep Purple vibes...likely harks back to her learning Highway Star 🤘🤘🤘
Every LIVE version of Freedom kicks ass. Band Maid seems to always have fun playing this song. To me, the most "fun" version is from 2018 Zepp Tokyo. Miku going full rock star in the first verse, Saiki going into the crowd towards the end and not getting back on stage for the final chorus, Miku stepping up and doing solo vocal instead.
This is my favorite song period. Any band, any genre. I agree, the studio version doesn't match the live version, but I have become so biased by the live version - also check out the live version of this on Band Maid Prime 2018 Zepp Tokyo, near the end of part three. The intro is killer, like revving up your car before you put your foot through the floor and then again, the power of the live performance of this song is otherworldly! And I believe Saiki goes into the crowd and Miku has to finish the song while Saiki fights her way back to the stage, LOL! They did a new intro for this song at Yokohama Arena that was even more killer!! K-Ross, I hope they do come to the UK and they play this one for you. The energy of this song with the crowd's energy must be experienced. And for your total enjoyment, just put your phone away and drink it all in, it's powerful and amazing and so much damn fun!!! Thank you again for this fun video and your painful suffering as you rank them!
For me, Freedom is the Band-Maid song that is most different between the studio and live versions.
Both versions are great.
The MAIDS are releasing a new single and an EP in January '25 and tour dates soon TBA.
I LOVE this song live (personally seen them play it four times so far), but the studio track doesn't cut it so much for me. So far I have:
1. Real Existence
2. Freezer
3. Forward
4. Arcadia Girl
5. ORDER
6. Be OK
7. the non-fiction days
8. Don't Apply The Brake
9. LOOK AT ME
10. Knockin' on Your Heart
11. Don't Let Me Down
12. Ai to Jōnetsu no Matador
13. KEY
14. Shake That!
15. YURAGU
16. Thrill
17. Yoake mae
18. Price of Pride
19. Bye My Tears
20. Brand-New Road
21. Summer Drive
22. EverGreen
23. FREEDOM
24. Big Dad
25. Beauty And The Beast
It really does feel strange hearing the studio version. I always hear the live. It sounds like Miku put a little attitude in the beginning of her line, too.
Unfortunately, for fans like myself that are newer fans to this group, who knew the live version before hearing the studio version. To me, the studio version feels flat, because there isn't a drum solo or that great lead up to Kanami's solo. It's the same way with Domination. I do love both studio versions, I don't skip them, but just not the same. 🤘
💜💛❤💙💚
*K-Ross* when *BAND-MAID* tours the UK, and you attend the concert are you going to scream *FREED🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶M!* or are you going to scream _(freezer)_ 😊
My first B-M experience too. Drum solo aside, Live version still miles better. Not sure if Saiki’s voice was struggling at this time but she doesn’t have anywhere near the power and depth on the studio recording as she does in the Live. The crowd also adds substance which when going back to studio, just seems a bit empty. There are many examples of where the crowd involvement completes the song for me or I have new/enhanced appreciation for when seeing a live version. Not sure what they can do about that (for the studio versions) when that’s the experience they’re going for - but kudos to them for writing with the live performance in mind.
1. Arcadia Girl
2. Freezer
3. Shake That!
4. Thrill
5. Real Existence
6. Forward
7. Yuragu
8. Non-Fiction Days
9. Price Of Pride
10. Don’t Apply the Brake
11. Bye My Tears
12. Summer Drive
13. Be OK
14. Key
15. Freedom
16. Brand New Road
17. Look at Me
18. Order
19. Beauty and the Beast
20. Ai to Jōnetsu no Matador
21. Yoake Mae
22. EverGreen
23. Knockin on your heart
24. Big Dad
25. Don’t Let Me Down
I assume the last place ranking for DLMD is strictly because of the lyrics????
I agree with you about some studio versions being better. I think "Blooming" for example has never hit has hard live as the studio version.
the non-fiction days
Yuragu
Thrill
Freezer
Real Existence
Shake That!!
Key
Arcadia Girl *
Beauty and the Beast *
Knockin' On Your Heart
NEW: Freedom
Don't Apply the Brake
Price of Pride
Be OK
Forward
Ai to Jonetsu no Matadoru
Summer Drive
Brand New Road
Order
Look at Me
Don't Let Me Down
Yoake Mae
Big Dad
Show Them
Evergreen
🕊👀❤😁🍻
You still have to check out You bro fantastic song(happens to be my favorite)
First thing I noticed right away in this studio version is Saiki-san's raspy voice! I feel so much for her! I don't hear it as much in the other tracks except for Before Yesterday. It was even worse in that track. 😥😫
I think most folks agree that a few songs like Choose Me, Blooming and Warning are better as Studio versions. Where as Wonderland and Awkward need to be heard live as the venue acoustics comes into play. I'm not including songs with extra guitar, bass duels or drum solos etc as these sway opinions- Hate etc.
God dammit kross knocking still on the bottom of the list , your still fired po!
Band Maid is a lot like KISS in live respects. They have a way of feeding off the crowd, the energy, the entire spirit of their shows. Makes their studio versions lack, comparatively.
The album version is still a good song, but slavishly produced so stringently to the beat that it's robotic.
I this case, live was better due to drum solo .
Po